Group fitness sessions here at Temple University are often overlooked due to people being intimidated by the whole thing or just not knowing that these sessions even exist. A perk that comes with your tuition is being able to utilize the IBC recreation center and take advantage of its various fitness classes.
I became fascinated with what the IBC had to offer, so I decided to attend three classes: Zumba, “Kardio” Kick, and Hip Hop. Here are my reviews on how the classes went and what happens during a typical class.
1. Zumba
The first class I attended was Zumba, offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. I attended the Tuesday session and when I first walked in, I noticed there was a decent amount of people which made me think this must be a popular class.
Once the session started, I fell in love with it immediately. I had so much fun the whole-time dancing to catchy Latin music while being able to sweat. The class felt like a beginner level so anyone of any age can join in without feeling behind.
I personally find more pleasure in being able to have fun while exercising and Zumba definitely gave me the best of both worlds. I would recommend attending one of the Zumba classes if you are looking for an enjoyable workout and are into dancing as well.
2. Kardio Kick
I will admit, signing up for this kickboxing class was a little intimidating since I didn’t know what to expect. I attended the Wednesday session and this time there were not as many people. I think this is due to others feeling the same way I did.
These classes consist of an intense cardiovascular workout using kickboxing and cross-training techniques. This class is a beginner level but felt like it could be intermediate or above with the amount of sweating and exercising we did.
I got an exceptional, intense workout from this class. We worked out our whole body through cardio, abs, legs, and arms. I hadn’t had an intense workout like that in a while so my body was shocked by the amount of movement I was doing. Although it was more difficult than Zumba and a lot of work, I felt amazing after and rewarded that I was able to fully complete the session.
3. Hip Hop
I must admit, this hip-hop class I took was my favorite! I have danced hip hop most of my life so this brought back memories from when I would be consistently dancing.
This session was offered on a Thursday, and the songs were super fun to dance to. I felt energized by the instructor and those around me. Some of the dance moves were like the Zumba class I attended but we danced to different music.
This class is beginner-level, and the goal is to exercise and have fun, so you feel amazing after the workout is completed. The class was filled with a decent amount of people but there was still enough room to move around. I recommend this class to those who like to dance with more freestyle.
After attending three different group fitness classes, I know I want to continue going to these weekly classes as well as attending other ones that the IBC offers. I encourage you all to take advantage of attending these classes if you are looking for a new workout in your routine! You can check out the group fitness schedules here.